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WASHINGTON IN WARTIME 

Poems and Verse 



I'll 

AXXA i; I'ATTEN 



Wasiiin(;t(in 



It. Karl Galhkaiti 



APR 24 1919 



©CL- 



'I'll the niiiiiinii of nil/ fnlhir, ('d/itoiii Jarris 
I'nUiii. irlnis, ^tr„injist niihanir iras l„ Inrj) 
Ihr r. S. Finn aihiHl on th, Anicrinni M, rrlnuil 
Mariin, this mliniic is a Ijrcfiniiuh li/ ,!,, licit, il. 



CniiyriKiit, i:ti;t, 

I'.v 
Anna B. I'atten. 



CONTENTS 



DECLARATION OF WAR 

Call In Anns— April Cth, I'.HT . 7 

PRKPAPwXTlONS 

Kii Cardc 8 

p:nlistments 

U.S.N. R !) 

SEARCHLIGHTS 

Eyes of War 10 

WAR-WORKERS 

■Civil Service 11 

THE SPRINC; DRIVE 

Call to Alms 12 

AIRSHIPS 

War-Birds 1?, 

^■EOWOMEN 

A Game i>f Ten])ins 14 

WASHINGTONIAXS 

The Home Guard 15 

THE SERVICE STAR 

Hands Across the Sea IG 

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE 

Our Mutual Friend 17 

THE ARMISTICE 

The Rainb(AV of Peace 1!1 

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHIELD 

After the War is Over 20 

THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN 

The Reckoning 21 

SOLDIER OF MY DREAMS 

A Camp-Fire Reverie 22 

OUT OF THE ASHES 

The Phcenix 2:! 



DECLARATION OF WAR 
APRIL 6, 1917 

Tin-: Call to Arms. 



To Arms ! To Arms ! We hear the cry resound ; 

The pulses of our lives give sudden leap. 

As if aroused to work from drowsy sleep : 
The summons echoes, all the world around. 
And then, across the acre-stretch of ground. 

We hear the tramp of men. in columns creep. 

Like steatly waves, that soon will onward swi>o| 
And storm tlic l)arriers, with furinus hound ! 

A blooding iiatinii liolils her outstretched hand 
111 supplication, far across the wave! 

Wold fast vour armor! Man your noble slu]) 
Kmbark your troops for that forsaken land; 
Succor'tho women; little children save — 
And bear tho precious food to starving lips! 



PREPARATIONS 

•'KX llARDK." 



-Martial law's stern edic; briiiii's 
A chantic state of thinjrs 
To our city, stately, slow. 
So. its t'aee youVl hardly know; 
Kxtra papers sound each day — 
Thrill you as to what they say; 
Lines oi people thronjr the street. 
Khaki, everywhere you meet : 
I'nit'orms. with stars and bars; 
Xaval aitis ami struttin,i: tars: 
Aviators, by the score: 
Men enlistinjr. lirat'ts. in store: 
Building-s ^niarded from the din. 
Only passes let you in : 
niri^'ible stunts each ilay : 
Transfiorts. sailing on their way: 
Air-ships, iioatiny through the air- 
Old Clory. waving everywhere! 

Strangers, coming in u swarm. 
Taking every j)lace by storm: 
Women, rushing in a race. 
Filling every vacant place: 
Reil-cross nursrs. in demand: 
Telephone-girls, on every hand: 
Naval reserves and Marinettes: 
Simple clerks, with no brevets: 
Policemen and conductors, too — 
Whatever work they find to do! 
Street car trallic. incomplete, 
Shoving, pushing for a seat: 
Housing girls, a problem sore: 
Theatres, packed way to the door: 
Prices, soaring to the sky — 
Profiteering, is the cry! 

Tense excitement holds you fast. 
While you watch the crowils move p, 
Prouil to have a little place 
In this whirligig oi space: 
Spite oi all the fuss and fret 
Clad to do our bit. you bet ! 
Clad to bear the blame and brunt 
To help OiR P.ovs on to the front! 



ENLISTMENTS 

U. S. N. K. 



Iliii-i-ah: Hurrah I 

Knr U. S. X. U.! 
They're jdiiiiiij^- ihc I'nrccs, from near and far- 

Nnrlh, snnih.rast and wcsl. 

I''r(ini honifs thcv loxc best, 
'J'hey've answered the summons. \vh(_'re\cr thev a 



Until th< 



Tliey'n- in line o|' march ! So. •■Step forward please'" 
Thry-\ f answrred the call 
To the colors— with all 

The service entails— till the war shall cease! 

Such swift, nimlile hands 

Uncle Sam deniantls. 
And "Ovci- the Toi)"_are the orders hricf- 

I!nf they all enroll 

\\'ith a firm-fixed g-oal — 
Fi-oni third-class to second-class, tirst-class, chief! 

Fair, yeomanctte maids. 

Our cllicient aides; 
III llieir uniform siuls. of na\y lilue; 

\\'ith their swa^Ker, neat, 

As they walk the street. 
In Iheir llowin.e capes and their sailors, too! 

HuiTah! Ilun-ah! 

For r. S. \. i:.! 
1'hey've Hocked to the hannei'. from „,,„• and far- 

They've plodded, like he.'S. 

S.I, honor them, please— 
They've won their chevrons — they've earned a ijar! 



THE SEARCHLIGHT 

■•Eyes ov \\ \i:: 



W'iuii darknos;? deepen^;, after sun>o;'< irLnv 
Aiu! !i 'isv Jay gives plaee to res; ltd night. 
(•.;■;• eves are startied by a btum et iig:it. 
Like giant arrows. 5ho: ironi otit a b.nv. 
We uateh the laseiiuiting play with awe: 



Partmg. iraivertr.g — sm.g.e snatts — tneii twatn. 
X'w here, new there, new near, now uir. they 
Seare'ning the spot where serpent toe may hide 
And straightway, niakin.g hidden piaees phiin : 
"Tis Ci 'd's own ringers, elrop: from heaven ab ' 
To iioid within His hand, the Lauvi we i.>ve! 



And thtis we know, wherever wc nuiy be. 
Wiur.ever da!iger Itirks from eraven spy 

T':at sweeps its eagle giaiue o"er 'and and s 
Nig'ntly we b!e~s thes. g".;ardians of t'ne a 
\\':il> ke<.p t;s s.'.fe i:i their pr'tk\-;i!;g eare. 



WAR-WORKERS 

('I\II. Skrvick. 



From over prairies, from out on the plains. 

From hiiiuhle farms and from homes of I'ase, 
Came thi' army of workers on rushing- ti'ains. 

To help the army of nieii. o\'erseas! 

They have left the sehool, the desk, and the p 
For Unele Sam, they ha\e saeritired all; 

Theirs not to (piestioii the when and the how ; 
Theirs but to answer the clarion eall. 

Experienced some, in a special line. 

While some can only hammer the keys ; 
But they all unite, in a purpose fine, 

To give their best till hostilities cease! 

They wear ni uniforms, natty and trim: 
No bright lirass buttons, to catch the eye. 

No lettered riblion, above the hat-ljrim. 
Their rank and title to signify. 

They are simplv "plain clothes" women anil men- 
No "Identification marks." at all; 

Their "finger ]n-ints," made with \-) ■nrW and pon 
On whatever place they happen to fall! 

But they iilunged into work, with heart and soul. 

In the heat (d' battle they did their share; 
They lined up t<igether— a solid whok — 

Just to beat the Boche, by foul means or fail-! 

Selling the Savings-Stamjis. Buttons and Bond; 

Enrolling in every big iiarade ; 
Amusing the soldiers, who may desiiond. 

Answering charity's call for aid. 

But now that their occupation is gone. 

And they're mustered out. with no roll of drum. 
Now, there's no more war-work to "carry-on" 

And "relief" from the sentry-post has come. 

Thev're facing a future, of direst stress. 

Wondering what they are going to do; 
Thev answered your summons of — "S. (). S." — 

Now. Uncle Sam— it is up to you! 

11 



THE SPRING DRIVE 



•Button. Button! who's got the Button?" 

\Vf learn the lesson by rote: 
Have you it pinned to your one-piece y:o\vn 

Or the lapel of your eoat ".' 
rnele Sam is asking you t'ur aid. 

To boost the Liberty-Loan — 
I'osters plead ami the people [parade — 

Will you let him tight alone? 

•■nuttnn. Hutti>n: who's got the Button?" 

Have you bought the Reti-Cross badge 
Tlu'\'re calling loud for your membership 

Or renewal of your pledge; 
Airships are dropping the message down. 

While the columns march below. 
Will \ou meet the d\ing with a frown — 
Will you tell the wounded — "No?" 

■Button, Button! who's got the Button?" 

Vou hear it on every hand ; 
.Movie-Stars barter them off to crowds. 

While notables near them stand: 
Hminy vour imckets: ritle your banks: 

Xo [irice is too high to pay : 
Ilich and poor must enroll in the ranks. 

If we want to win the day! 



AIRSHIPS 

'Wak-Dikus; 



A whir of wings! I lift my eager eyes 
And there, above me — soaring in the skies 
I see the War-Birds! Far, far overhead, 
The\' (lip and circle — then, by fancy led — 
They swfioji down fiercely — suddeidy cai'een — 
Then right themselves, ere they are hardly sei 
And thus cavorting, make us holil our breath. 
While they, so gavly, lead a Dance with Death! 



Oh ! wondrous Birds of I'rey ! I watch your flight 

I feel within, the on-rush of your might 

That conciuei-s space and bears you where vnu will 

1, whn am fettered, long to take my fill 

Ol' ci'aselcss roaming — Soar o'er land and sea 

Until— dear heart— I come to France— and thee. 



Y E O - W O M E N 



10 li'tU' vconu'ti. siatuiitig- in a lino, 

Onr (if tlu'm yot iransU'rved — ihcn tlu'iv \vt 

;> liiclt' vi'ijiiu'n, (.-mildirt bear lu wait. 

Oiii' ui thcta .u'ot niarriod — thftt thiTi.' wimv 

S littlo yiH>mfii, th(ni';-ht they'd jrot to luavei 
Studd al [ho dis[)ensary — then there were 7 

7 little yeunu n. up to lots ot' trieks. 
Missed oil the "'exanis" — then there were G. 

t) little yeomen, roominy in a hive. 
One got siirt'oeated — then there were •'). 

•". little yeomen, pressed ayainst the door, 
(,)ne fell from otit the car — then there were 

I little yeomen, strong- for ehari-tee — 
One went as Ued-Oross Nurse — then there w 

:'. little yeomen, frightened of the "Fli!." 
One went and eaiight it — then there were 1'. 

•J little yeomen, full of ti.eht an^i fun. 

One of "them g-'>t "fired" — then there was I. 

I little yeoman, when the war was done, 
'Long eiime the armistice— and now — there's 



WASHINGTONIANS. 

The Homk Guard. 



Thcv wait \\ithiii tlR'ir hmdniarks. niutf and still, 
Thosf ,.f thr First Wanl — Hnuschnhls un the Hill : 
They sec the imrde of strangers. swoepiiiK in. 
And liush their iiieelv protest a«-ainst the din I 

Is this tlie stately City, they unce knew, 
■Where they I'l-uni ehildlin:)d into manhood trrew ; 
Now. it is one Ion-- trail of footsteps, fleet, 
ThronKh park and roadway, avenue and street! 

Machines, en masse, eonlinnal parades: 
Cars at a stand-still; starllinj:- aii'-ship i-aiils; 
Their home no lon.uer is theii- rastle strong. 
They hardly know the plaee where they lu'lon^^! 

Onee they had seats and rode to work with ease, 
Now, thev K't straps oi- on the [datform s(iueeze; 
Thev who were wont, their eitv's wavs to bless. 
Would mueh prefer a howling Wild.'rness! 

Tliev'\.' sunk to ol)livion, in the erush. 
They're left hehind. ill the mad. -inward rush. 
For all the triluite. all the plaudits wait 
For her or him — the si ranker in the ixinvl 

iUit thev are readv, still, their eross to hear, 
In the world's saeriliee. to liave a share: 
IvetreatiiiK to the real-, thev do their stunt 
And take the little slights, without alfront ! 

ThevM like to see the Canital, (uu-e more, 
Sle.'pv and restful, as it was before: 
The orders eaiue— "( )i.en to them, the door!"— 
Theirs, to (it)ey — beeausi — It Is thk War! 



THE >b-K\:Lt: >r\K 



INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE 

Oril :\IllTrAL 1''K1KNI). 



.lark's rhiim, he writrs to his wife 
And his wii'o then wriu-s to nic, 
And I am just as piiz/.lcd as a 
Puz/k'd wife can he; 
For .lack's rhnni writes of slran<re things 
That they often K" to see, 
I!ut Jack, in his own lettei's, 
Never mentions them 
to Jle ! 

.lack writes of di'ills and training 
And Ih.' tasks they liave to do; 
Describes the m'ess and ollice'rs 
And all their sayings, too; 
.lack's chnm relates the escapades 
They did in j^ay Par-ee — 

:\Iy -Jack he never iireathed of this 
In letters sent 
to Me! 

.lack wi-ites of all the people 
And the customs, over there. 
He tells of how the natives live 
And what they eat and wear; 
Jack's chum writes ot' the "Peaches" 
That they met. so fail- to see. 
.lack llevei- lisjied .if "i'e;u"hes" 
In his letlei-s sent 
to We! 



1 X W 

\ 1 



THE ARMISTICE 

Tin; Uaim'.dw ow Pkace. 



After the storm and thunder of the guns — 

The liKhtniuK thrill of terror while we wait 
The tidings after battk — when our sons 

Are at the front, and fearful of the fate 
That may befall them. then, there comes a bow 
Of promise, in the temjiest of our woe! 

A rainbow areh. that stretches o'er the sea 
And links the nations in a joyous peal; 
Its cloudless rays of hope make s'hadows llee 
And (luiet into cannonading steal. 
For, at its coming, all war's discords cease — 
The Armistice 1 Loved harbinger of Peace! 

We gi'eet it with mad shout and beating gong; 

A riot, universal, unrestrained: 
Flags wave and horns and drums, the glee prolong 
Pecidiar acts and w<irds pass. une.\])lained ; 
The rich and pooi- meet on a level plan(>. 
Embracing all alike, with bliss insane! 

No more the danger, hidden in the deep; 

The sickly trench, the ugly gun-shot wound; 
The deadly gases, that like serpents creep; 

Or loved ones, in the list of MissiNC, found — 
All these are banished— Life takes new release 
With the blest Armistice! The Bow of Peace! 



THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHIELD 

TuK n\i.\ Son ok His .Miithki;. anu Shi; Was a Widow. 



Slu' saw it blazonoil uii the printed sheet : 
Sru" heai'd it shiuranl juyous. on the street. 
Of all the wuiulrous things tiiey would prepare 
For their return — but he would not be there! 

The least ot' good things — the recurring joys 
They plannetl to give the home-returning boys; 
l.')St in their smiles, they would not see the tear 
That she would shed — because he was not here! 

Men in the trenches — weary from the march — 
For these they'd build a grand, triumphal arch; 
frowning them with the laurel-wreath of fame — 
i'.ut there would be no mention — of his name! 

The wounded in the hospitals could hear 

And gain new strength from that wild burst of eheer 

lUit never roll of trumpet, r.iar of gun 

f'ould reach him where he slept — her only son! 

•lust a mere private! In a lonely grave. 
Who gave his life, another life to save; 
She is no Spartan Mother, thus to yield 
Her dearest all, to die upon the tield ! 

If she could see him. as she saw him last. 
Shine out from all the faces, moving past — 
His braverv she'd barter for that ji-y— 
She was a Widow— he. her only Hoy ! 



THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN 

'IMlK ItKCKdNlNCI. 



Ncvfi- ..iicc had she dreamed 

That of riiiids shiTiudd hv he re ft ; 

Vet, n.iw tl:r war's o'er 

And her eh'rkshi|)-s no mere 

She linds.iut she has nothin-j; U't't ! 

Some allntnients there were 

And subsistence, so sure; 
Case-pay anil a check, here and ther( 

But, as each month i-olled round. 

To her horror, she found 
She ni'\'er had any to sj)are! 

Shoes and Klovcs'she must buy. 
Season hats, priced so hi^rh. 

Shopping baKs and a string of i)earl 1 
Just a lo\e of a K<|^vn — 
Most exjiensive in town — 

And sundries, every girl needs! 

There was caiulv j^-alore. 
And llowers. bv'the score. 

Show-tickets aiul movies, as well; 
There was room-rent and board. 
Which she could not all'ord— 

r.ut of course, she had to live swell! 

Hul there's one pni-chase. rash. 
That she blew in the cash. 

i'.efnre it had vanished, vou'll note- 
It conies down to the heel 
And it cost a .ureal deal— 

IJul. at last, she has a — KlK Coat! 



21 



THE iOLDlfclK OF MY DREAMS. 
A I'A.Mr-FiKt: Revkkie. 



1 see him staiuiii'^^-. <:i-aiy:h: aiul tali, 

Aiul I'K.'kitig down a: v.w. 
1. who have no male-ehikl at all. 

No s:alwai-t son :o see : 
And yet. that picture in its frame. 

So'like to life it seems. 
That I eould almost speak his name-- 

Tho So'.ditr of my Dreams! 

W'-'en mirents hid Cod-speed, so proud. 

Ai!d 1 stand by. alone. 
1 :hink I see. within the crowd. 

(.)ne of my very own: 
> - bonnv in the khaki-brown. 

My face with rapf.ire beams. 
1 Unow t'"a' he will win renown — 

The S.'ldi^r -t my Dr.ams! 

And when, returrdng home at last. 

1 see them on the street, 
I watch for him as they march past. 

Mv easer eyes to meet ; 
I hear the shouts that rend the arr: 

Mv si'ul with triumph teems. 
F'O- oh. n\y Shad^'w-Fad is there— 

Oh. Mothers! I w-.uld rather choose 

Like you my grief to hide: 
F who have had n" boy :o l-'~<^. 

N ' s m to leave :ny sidel 
F whv) see but a phantom ray. 

That comes in transient gleants 
Across the desert of my way — 

The Soldia- ot; try Dreams. 



OUT OF THE ASHES 

'I'HK Pii()i:m\. 



Out ot the Ashes! A Phoenix shall rise— 
A hiiKenng spark, when the ember dies; 
Wht'ii the roar of the Kmis has rolled aw'av 
. A\ ith the smoke of thr iiattle, dull and n;ni.v ! 

Out of the Ashes! If we will hut waif 

Tdl the blaze dies (|..\vn of an^er and hate- 

We will see the spirit of l.ivc eom.' furth 

And breathe on the st.mes of the e^ld, dead hearth 

Dee]) into the erueiblc we have thrown 
The worn-out eustoms. the world has km>wn ■ 
Ihey shi-iveled up in tlie tiei-v blaze. 
And erumbled lieiieath ,nu- stai'tled jraze ! 

Caste has burned out in the terrible heat, 
As those brave hearts pulsed to a single beat • 
Out of the flames, that mui' ra^e did t'^an 
SprauK eternal brotherh.iod nf man ! 

We tossed in pretense! It lliekered and llr<l ■ 
While sn<ibbishness sank in that Khasilv bed ■ 
Selfishness dietl in the smotherin<r kIow 
And rivalry lay in the ivfuse Inw ! 

Out nf the Ashes! S,,uls, tried as bv tire 
Shall sec arise fi-.im the funeral pvre— 
Whon all nf the drnss has been pureed awav— 
The Dawn ..fa fairer, brighter Dav ! 
Out of the Ashes! 



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IBRPRY OF CONGRESS 



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